A Gate. A Road. A Destination.
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· 19 viewsGrace Fellowship in Rusk, Texas Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 10:30 AM
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A Gate. A Road. A Destination.
A Gate. A Road. A Destination.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Going Somewhere?
Going Somewhere?
Many are uncertain about their eternal destination.
Do you know where are you going?
Do you know how to get there?
Do you know where to begin?
A Destination
A Destination
We spend much time considering temporal destinations, but little time considering our eternal destination.
Jesus mentioned two destinations: Destruction and Life
Destruction
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
The Greek word for “destruction” is apoleia that means “complete destruction” or “ruin” (not annihilation).
Life
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Heaven or Hell?
Hell is the default destination for all human beings, for all have sinned.
Heaven is the redeemed destination for all who believe!
A Road
A Road
Jesus mentioned two roads: The “Broad” Road and the “Narrow” Road
The Broad Road
The broad road is wide open. (Like a “Mixmaster”.)
The broad road is a road of tolerance where anything goes.
The broad road is the road of personal desire and choice.
The broad road has no boundaries or speed limits.
The broad road has no limits to the variety of lifestyles one can choose from on the way to destruction.
Power / Pleasure / Perversion / Morality / Tolerance / Independence / Conformity / Rebellion / Career / Money / Morality / Politics / Religion / Selfishness / Good works /
The devil doesn’t care what you choose as long as you are destroyed.
The Narrow Road
The narrow road is a life defined by godly boundaries.
Like marriage, it is bound and confined in covenant love.
The narrow road is the focused road.
Focused on Jesus.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Focused on the road map of God’s Word.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
The narrow road is an old and ancient path.
Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
“Because My people have forgotten Me, They have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in pathways and not on a highway,
We are not to change the path by moving or removing ancient landmarks.
Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.
The narrow road is a highway of holiness.
A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.
The narrow road is the road less traveled.
The narrow road is not a popular road.
The narrow road is not the accepted route.
The narrow road is the way of the Cross of Christ.
The only way to heaven is through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The narrow road is the way of discipleship.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
A Gate
A Gate
Where do you begin? You begin at the gate.
Jesus mentioned two gates: The “Wide” gate and the “Narrow” gate.
The Wide gate
It is tolerant and inclusive.
It is open to all without exclusion.
You can choose any religion.
You can follow any prophet or messiah.
You can believe whatever you want.
You can be whoever you want.
You can live however you want.
Heaven is without exclusion.
The Narrow gate.
The gate is narrow.
It is exclusive because heaven is exclusive.
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Jesus is the only way to heaven.
The cross of Christ is the only means of salvation.
The Narrow gate is not a place. The Narrow gate is the Door of Jesus Christ.
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Response to the Word
Response to the Word
Where are you going? Heaven or Hell?
What road are you on?
Have you entered the Door of Jesus Christ by faith?
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! NO ONE comes to the Father except through Him!